Charges readied against former Capitol employees

CEBU, Philippines - The legal counsels of Acting Governor Agnes Magpale will still be filing charges against former employees of suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia even after they filed their resignation.

Atty. Dara Acusar, Capitol consultant for legal and media affairs, said that they have the cases prepared against the former employees of Garcia in relation to the rift during the padlocking of the Office of the Governor.

Acusar said that they have not filed the cases yet since it is not their priority but initial findings of their legal team include the filing of trespassing, disobedience of authority and direct assault against the employees including Garcia’s chief of staff, Elizabeth Francia.

Francia and other employees of Garcia refused to step out from the Office of the Governor last January 30, after Magpale ordered the closure of the office.

Garcia stepped out from her office on the eve of January 30 where she attended events in southern towns in the province.

Francia and other staff members questioned the closure order showed by Provincial Administrator Eduardo Habin and Magpale’s legal counsels, citing that the letter was not addressed to them as well as having been served late in the first place.

Garcia’s legal counsels, who also showed up during the tension-gripped scenario, also stressed that apart from not given enough time for their staff to move out, the closure of the office was ‘illegal’ since it was tantamount to removal of service and not suspension.

Francia and other employees also encountered in a heated argument with policemen guarding the door to the Governor’s office last January after police refused to let Francia back in the office when she stepped out momentarily to use the restroom.

After the incident, Francia and Amor Sarmiento, executive assistant of Garcia, filed charges of grave abuse of authority, gross misconduct, grave coercion, and graft against Magpale, Acusar, Habin and four other officials of the Philippine National Police.

Yesterday, Acusar said that they have not received any official letter or summon from the Office of the Ombudsman but said that they are ready to give their reply.

Francia earlier questioned the camp of Magpale for cases to be filed against them especially on trespassing considering that they work in the office.

But Magpale’s legal counsels have already stressed that apart from Garcia being suspended, the staff had no business in the office after 5 in the afternoon. Garcia’s staff stayed in the office of the Governor until 9 in the evening.

“She can consult her lawyer,” Acusar added yesterday. —/JPM (FREEMAN)